Unaddressed hearing loss

By Metro Creative

According to the World Health Organization, roughly 5% of the world’s population, or more than 400 million people, requires rehabilitation to address disabling hearing loss. And that could only prove the start, as the WHO estimates that 2.5 billion individuals will have some degree of hearing loss by 2050.

The consequences of hearing loss can be profound. Unaddressed hearing loss can adversely affect cognition and contribute to social isolation. The WHO notes that adults with hearing loss have considerably higher rates of unemployment than individuals with no hearing deficits.

In addition, unaddressed hearing loss can be costly, with estimates from the WHO suggesting the annual global costs are around $980 billion. Those costs include a number of expenses, including hearing devices, education support and lost productivity.

— Metro Creative